People have different opinions as to why Republicans are trailing in the polls this election season. Some say it's because of the Foley scandal. That's because Evangelicals took credit for electing Republicans they are now taking the blame for what the Republicans did. Putting a gay congressman in charge of the exploited children caucus who is trying to exploit children isn't what Evangelicals want on their list of political accomplishments.

The Republicans have been making me feel a strange hybrid emotion for which I had no term. It is uncomfortable not to be able to identify my emotions, so I began to search for a term that seemed appropriate for their many excuses.

The major number one excuse this administration uses over and over again is "nobody ever anticipated Iraq insurgencies, hurricane Katrina, planes hitting a building."

What's next? how about not enough prison cells for criminals. There is plenty of evidence to prove counter to their claims. Time and time again this administration refuses to face the facts. Bush is in a state of denial and the next catastrophe is right around the corner. They will tell you they are working hard and they have difficult job.

Let's be realistic they are only concerned with campaign contributions and what business they could lobby for when they leave office.

On Keith Olbermann's show recently, of course, one of the topics discussed was Hastert's handling of the Foley pagegate scandal.

Here's a partial transcript of one of the funniest exchanges in one of the discussions (drawing your attention to the first comment of Craig Crawford -- too funny!)

OLBERMANN: The speaker as asked again today, if he recalled Congressman Tom Reynolds telling about the Foley issue in the spring of this year, and the Mr. Hastert said, "I just don't recall him telling me that. If he would have told me that, he would have told me about in that context of a half a dozen or a dozen other things." He's getting his cake and eating it too, here. Essentially characterizing a conversation that he does not recall having it happening. Never mind what the Democrat's say, if you've got conservatives who are furious at Hastert, and this is the kind of disaster that does not need one party painting the other, this is self-painting -- will the Republicans need to throw Hastert under the bus to save their chances in the election?

CRAWFORD: Well, if he fits -- if the bus has a lot of clearance. I do think that movement is beginning, Keith. I see that happening, because Republicans know better than anyone how these issues can take over. They won control of Congress in 1994, largely, because of accusations against Democrats for abusive power, Dan Rostenkowski, the chairman Ways and Means and the check hiding scandal and stealing stamps. I mean, it's these weird kinds of things that make people talk, get people focused around the water cooler, and that's where it could be damaging. So, I could imagine them making a move on Hastert just to show the voters that the party is reforming itself.

Molly's column of Sept. 28 was about torture. She was commenting on why the press is not talking about this more. The other night Andersen Cooper had an interview with the Canadian who was picked up and tortured. Before the interview he was saying that though they have and are discussing this issue many don't because of ratings. Apparently people tend to turn the channel when the topic comes to torture.

It seems people would rather not hear about to salve a guilty conscience than to face the subject head on. This leaves the hatemongering spin misters like Limbaugh to make fun of and light of this and how it's needed to fight the war on terror.

This info gets to the least informed and more reactionary elements in the country who listen to garbage like this. And since they watch Fox and have their prejudices re-enforced and won't get told the other side of the issue due to the MSM not reporting it due to ratings, we are not getting the balance of information. People just are either turning it off and only one side is heard.

Because of the seriousness of the issue this is what is the most tragic in the whole debate. Ignorance.

I will only speak for myself, but Keith Olbermann keeps knocking it out of the ballpark with his special commentaries, and just his show in general.

I was horrified to read yesterday about the "fake" anthrax threat sent to Mr. Olbermann at his personal residence.

Even more appalling, however, was the "hit piece" and cheap shot leveled at him by Rupert Murdoch's NY Post.

What can we who appreciate Mr. Olbermann's incisive and straight forward commentaries do to more fully show not only him, but MSNBC and the media at large our appreciation for Mr. Olbermann's bravery in speaking truth to courage, and standing up for truth, honesty, and the principles upon which this country was founded?

The MSM and the neocons need to know there are a lot more of us out here who appreciate intelligence, courage, and personal integrity.